Pakistani FM seeks talks with India to ease tension

January 17, 2013, 4:47 UTC+3The foreign minister stressed that both parties had groups, which came against the peace process

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NEW YORK, January 17 (Itar-Tass) – Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said she proposed to hold talks with India in order to ease tension on the demarcation line.

“We are opened for holding discussions and a dialogue at the ministerial level in order to solve the problem and confirm our commitment to ceasing fire. We believe that the dialogue should help solve the problem,” Khar said during her visit to the United States on Wednesday, January 16.

The foreign minister stressed that both parties had groups, which came against the peace process. “This is beyond our interests that is why we should not fall victims [of provocations],” she said.

Tension on the Kashmir section of the Pakistani-Indian border increased considerably after a Pakistani soldier was killed on January 6. Two days after, on January 8, two Indian soldiers were killed. On Monday, the parties met when India voiced protest due to the violation of the ceasefire regime. However, the Islamic republic repelled the accusations. Islamabad and New Delhi accused each other of violating the 2003 agreements on ceasefire and wrecking the negotiating process.

The control line divides India and Pakistan and is not juridically recognised as a border between the two states. After British India was divided in 1947 three wars happened between the two states – in 1947-1949, 1965 and 1971.